Joey Jesso, a 57-year-old Stephenville Crossing man, was released from custody when he appeared in provincial court in Stephenville on Tuesday charged with assaulting the owner of a home in Port au Port East.

Sgt. Cathy Whitehead of the Bay St. George RCMP said police received a report at 7:50 p.m. on Monday evening that someone was breaking into a house in Port au Port East. It was alleged by the owner that he had been assaulted by Jesso.

When police arrived Jesso was not at the residence but was picked up in a vehicle afterwards and charged with the assault, along with break and enter and kept in custody until his Tuesday court appearance.